Machine for applying alpha strip of tape to alpha piece of sheet material



Oct. 25, 1932.

H. L. CHAPIIN MACHINE FOR APPLYING A STRIP OF TAPE TO A PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. L.. CHAPHN Oct. 25, 1932.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING A STRIP OF TAPE TO A PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l/E/V 777/2. M 1 62% H. L. CHAPIN Oct. 25, 1932.

MACHINE FOR APPLYING A TRIP OF TAPE TO A PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL Filed Aug. 14, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Z5 W k 2 J n Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UETEE STYLES PATENT orrics HERBERT L. GHAPIN, F SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 UNITED SHOE MACHINERY, CORPOEATION', OF PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY MACHINE FOR APPLYING A STRIP OF TAPE TO A PIECE OF SHEET MATERIAL Application filed August 14 1928. Serial No. 299,511.

This invention relates to machines for applying a strip of tape to a piece of sheet ma terial and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for applying adhesive tape to a part of the upper of a boot or shoe.

In the manufacture of boots and shoes it is common practice to apply reinforcing tape to parts of shoe uppers. The tape is ordinarily supplied from a reel, the free end applied progressively to a shoe part by a memher which acts not only to apply the tape to the shoe part but also to feed both the tape and the shoe part; and, when the desired length of tape has been applied, the tape is severed.

It is frequently necessary to lay the tape along a curved edge of the work in which case it is necessary to swing the work while it is being fed and the tape applied to it. In such case it is desirable that the material should not be engaged both by the work support and the tape applying or feeding member at localities on both sides of the opposite edges of the tape, since such engagement interferes with ready turning or swinging of the work.

According to one feature of the invention, there are provided a work support, means cooperating with the work support for applying tape to the work, and means for effecting relative adj ustment transversely of the tape between the work support and the tape-applying means to effect register between an edge of the work support which extends lengthwise of -the tape and one edge of the tape. In the illustrated machine'the work support and thetape applying member are in the form of rolls, and the worksupporting roll is longitudinally adjustable to bring one end of it into register with one edge of the piece of tape. There is thus no gripping of the portion of the shoe part or other piece of sheet material which projects beyond one of the supporting roll; and the shoe part may readily be turned or swung when a curved edge is encountered.

In order still further to facilitate swinging of the work and in accordance with another feature of the invention there are pro vided a work support and a roll Co-operating therewith to apply by pressure a strip of adhesive tape to the work, the roll being com posed of a plurality of sections to permit differential rotation to take place between the sections to facilitate applying the tape upon the work in curves. In the illustrated machine, driving means is provided for the roll and a differential drivemechanism is interposed between each of the sections and the driving means to permit the sections to vary their respective speeds of rotation as the work is laid in curves.

In'machines of. the classdescribed it frequently happens that-the coils of tape upon the supply reel stick. to each other or some other condition occurs whereby, abnormal tension is produced in the tape between the supply reel and the point of application of the tape to the work.- According to another feature of the invention there'is provided an auxiliary feed device constructed and arranged to become effective upon such abnormal tension in the tape to assist the tape feeding means. In the illustrated machine, the auxiliary feed device consists'of a constantly running roll engaging the tape inadvance of its point of applicationto the work, the roll being so positioned wit-h respect to the tape that an abnormal tension in the tape will cause friction between'the roll and the tape andthus assist in feeding the tape.

It is'desirable that at the end of the tape laying operation the moving tape be severed by a clean cut. To'this end and in accordance with another feature ofthe invention, there is provided a. knife for severing the tape mounted to rotate about one axis so as to have a component of cutting'movement normal to the surface of the tape at the point of cutting and also about another axis so as to have a component of cutting movement crosswise of the tape. In the. illustrated machine the tape,

in the locality in which it is to be severed, is

rendered taut, and then the knife is first brought into contact with the tape at all points across the width of the tape and then moved transversely of the tape to sever it with a draw cut. By this mechanism the moving tape may be cleanly severed.

A considerable proportion of the tape used in the manufacture of boots and shoes is coated with an adhesive substance which requires heat to make it sticky. According to another feature of the invention novel means are provided for applying heat to the tape at such times only as the tape is being applied to the work. In the illustrated machine in which a tape presenter engages the leading end of the tape and presents said end to the.

features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts herein shown and claimed, the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a machine embodying the invention Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the machine showing the tape applying mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation partly in section showing a portion of the control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tape severing and gripping means;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary axial section taken through the tape applying and work supporting rolls; and

Fig. 7 is an end elevation showing the tape presenting mechanism.

Before proceeding to a detailed description of the machine a brief description of its general mode of operation will be given. Referring to Fig. 1, the parts of the machine are shown in the positions which they occupy when no work is going through the machine. The solid work-supporting and feeding roll 11 and the sectional tape applying roll, the outer section of which is indicated at 95, are rotated continuously. When the operator desires to apply tape to a piece of sheet material, such for example as leather, he depresses a treadle, whereupon a tape holder comprising a member 179, is actuated to present the leading end of the tape 100 in position to be seized by the rolls as soon as a piece of leather is presented to the rolls. The position of the tape holder and the free end of the tape just prior to the presentation of the leather is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. As long as the operator holds the treadle down, the work continues to be fed and the tape applied to the leather. When a suflicient amount of tape has been applied to the leather, the operator releases the treadle,

whereupon the tape holder is returned to the position shown in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 7 and the tape severing mechanism, designated as a Whole by S, presses the tape against a cutting block 15, severs the tape and returns to the position shown in Fig. 1. The operator may then depress the treadle again and present a second piece of leather to the machine.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the construction and mounting of the rolls and the parts associated with them will be described. The work-supporting roll 11 is rotatable upon a hollow horizontal spindle 17, said spindle being held fast by a screw 19 in the upper end of a support 21, the lower portion of which is cylindrical and is slidable vertically in a hollow post 23. The roll 11 has fast to or integral with it a gear 25 which meshes with a gear 27, the

latter gear being fast to one end of a hori zontal shaft 29 to the other end of which is fast a bevel gear 31, the shaft 29 being rotatable in the support 21. Meshing with the bevel gear 31 is a second bevel gear 33 fast to the upper end of a vertical shaft 35 which is rotable in the cylindrical portion of the support 21 and has fastened to its lower end a helical gear 37. Meshing with the helical gear 37 is a second helical gear 39 fast to one end of a horizontal shaft 41, to the other end of which is fastened a gear 43, said lastnamed gear being driven through an idle gear 45 from a gear 47 on a drive shaft 48. The support 21 for the roll 11 1s urged upwardly at all times by means of a lever 55 pivoted at 57 to the frame of the machine. One end of this lever is received in a notch formed in the cylindrical portion of the sup port 21; and the other end has pivoted to it a forked member 59 having an upright stem (shown broken away) the upper end of which passes loosely through a headed sleeve 61, which is threaded into a part of the frame of the machine. A coiled spring 63, which rests at its lower end upon the forked portion of the member 59 and at its upper end bears against the underside of the sleeve 61, tends at all times to push the forked member downward, the extent of this downward movement being limited by a thumb-nut which is threaded upon the upper end of the stem of the forked member 59. The stress of the spring 63 is adjusted by rotating the sleeve 61 in the appropriate direction, and the position which the work supporting roll 11 may assume with respect to the tapeapplying roll is adjusted by rotating the thumb-nut 65 in the appropriate direction. The work-supporting roll 11, when properly adjusted by manipulation of the thumb-nut 65, is normally held spaced from the tapeapplying roll a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the tape so that. when the holder is swung down into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the tape will not be seized by the rolls, but when apiece of work to which the tape is to be applied is introduced between the rolls, the work will be gripped by a yielding pressure. Provision is made for separating the rolls to permit the introduction or removal of work in cases wherein itis desired to begin or to end the application of tape at some point inside the edge of the work, and also to enable the operator to stop the feed of the work instantly and without stopping the drive of the rolls in case of emergency or for the pur pose of inspecting the progress of he operation. Such separation is effected by retracting the work-supporting roll 11. It will be noted that the spring'219, as shown in Fig. 2, is of sufficient length to permit retraction of the roll 11 to a position wherein no pres sure is exerted upon the work, and wherein the work may be inserted or removed from between the'rolls. In order to'enable the operator to retract the roll 11 when desired,

" an arm 67, pivoted to the frame at 69, has

threaded into it the upper end of a rod 71 to the lower end of which may be attached a knee lever (not shown) or any suitable device whereby the arm 67 may be rocked to rock the lever and thereby depress the lower roll 11. 7

It is desirable, for reasons presently to be explained, that the work-supporting roll shall be adjustable along its axis of rotation. To this end (Fig. 3) the roll is held in place by a small rectangular frame 73, the lefthand cross-member 75 of which extends betweenthe roll 11 and the gear25, and the right-hand cross-member 77 of which extends into a groove in a nut 79 which is threaded upon a reduced end of the horizontal spindle 17. By turning the nut 7 9 it is thus possible to adjust the roll 11 along its axis of rotation. In order to guide the work, there is provided an edge guide 81 overlying the roll 11 and having a shoulder, as illustrated in Fig.2, arranged for contact with the edge of the work. The guide 81 is also so disposed with respect to the roll 11 as to engage the side of the work adjacent to the roll. The stem of the guide 81 eX- .tends into the hollow spindle 17 and has in its end a socket into which is threaded one end of a small rod 83 to the other end of which is fastened a thumb-nut 85. By turn ing this thumb-nut the edge guide may be adjusted to determine the location of the tape with respect to the edge of the leather or other piece of sheet material.

The upper or tape-applying roll is a sectional, differential roll, the purpose of making it in relatively rotatable sections being to facilitate the laying of the tape along curved edges ofthe work or in curved paths wherever located. Rotatably mounted in a stationary bearing carried by an overhanging arm 87 of the machine is a horizontal shaft 89 (Figs. 2 and '3). Screwed upon the outer end of this shaft is a pinion-carrier 91 having rotatably mounted in it two bevel pinions, one hundred and eighty degrees apart, one of which is shown at 93. Although the pinion-carrier 91 is made in two parts which are separated by a transverse joint and fastened rigidly together, it could as well be made in one part and will be described as though so made. This pinion-carrier has a thin peripheral flange 191' circular inoutline. Located on one side of this flange is the outer section 95 of the roll having fast to it a bevel gear 97;

and located on the other side of this flangeis the inner section 99 having fast to it ,a bevel gear 101, said bevel gears 9'? and 101 meshing with the bevel pinions 93. The section 99 of the roll is held from movement lengthwise of the shaft by a collar 103 which is fast to the l pinion-carrier 91, and the outer section 95 is held from movement lengthwise of the shaft by a washer 105 and a screw 107 which is threaded into the outer end of the pinioncarrier. The inner end of the shaft 89 of the tape-applying roll carries a gear 109 which is driven through a train of gears 111, 113, 115, and 117 (Fig. 1) from a gear 119 on a counter-shaft 53, which in turn is driven through gears 51 and 49 from thegear 47.

Referring now to Fig. 6, there is shown in section a piece of sheet material 200 such as leather and a piece of tape 100 in engagement with the two rolls. It will be noted that the lower roll has been adjusted into a position in which its inner or right-hand edge registers approximately with the right-hand edge of the tape. It is very desirable that this relative position be maintained, and it is to pro vide for securing this relation with pieces of tape of different widths that the lower roll is adjustable along its axis of rotation. The purpose of adjusting the lower roll 11 intothe position shown in Fig. 6, in which its inner or right-hand end registers with the inner edge of the tape 100, is to facilitate swinging of the work when it is desired to lay the tape in a curved path. If the roll 11 extended considerably farther to the right, the leather 200 would be gripped to an excessive extent between the roll 11 and the section 99 of the feed roll with the result that swinging of the work would be somewhat impeded. The cir cular flange 19]., which is part of the pinion carrier, is fast to the shaft of the upper roll and consequently rotates at all times at the same speed as the shaft of said roll, does not extend quite to the periphery of the sections 95 and 99. It extends, however, near enough to said periphery to press to some extent upon the tape and to prevent the tape from bunching upinto the space between the sections 95, 99. The adjacent corners of the sections 95, 99 are cut away on a bevel at 121, 123 respectively. The purpose of providing that the flange 191 shall not press with any considerable force against the tape and of cutting off the corners of the sections is to prevent the tape from being torn or displaced when the tape is laid in sharp curves. It will be understood that the sections 95, 99 of the tape-applying roll will rotate at the same speed when the work is being fed in a straight path but at different speeds when the work is swung to one side or the other of said straight path to lay the tape in a curved path.

' Referring again to Fig. 3, two springpressed plungers, one of which is shown at 124, are mounted in the pinioircarrier 91 and have beveled outer ends which are pressed by springs against the inner wall of the section 99 of the feed roll. These plungers are friction devices to aid in driving the section 99 or the section 95 as may be required. It sometimes happens that the leading edge of the work is presented to the rolls on an angle so that only the section 99 engages the work. In such case, if no friction plungers are present and the work is very thick, it may sometime happen that the rotation of the section 99is stopped so that only the section 95, which does not engage the work, continues to rotate in which case the work is not seized and advanced by the rolls. It is to avoid such a possibilitythat a friction drag in the form of the friction plungers 124 is provided, the friction being sufficient to cause the section 99 to rotate and thus carry the leading edge of the work into the bite of the rolls. In order to simplify the explanation of the function of the friction plungers, the case in which the leading edge of the work engages only the section 99 has been considered. The function is the same, however, if said leading edge engages only the section 95, namely to carry the leading edge of the work into the bite of the rolls.

It has been indicated above that the leading end of the tape is held well above the level of the bite of the rolls, as in Fig. 1, when no tape is being laid, and that depression of a treadle causes the tape holder, which will presently be described, to present the leading end of the tape to the rolls. To this end the shaft 13 (Fig. is rotatably mounted in the end portion of the arm 87 and has fast to its right-hand end a segmental gear 125 which meshes with a second segmental gear 1.27, so that, when the gear 127 is rocked in a manner presently to be described in the direction indicated by the arrow, the shaft 13 is rocked in a clockwise direction. Fast to this rockshaft 13 is a carrier 13]. Mounted in the upper portion of this carrier is one end of a small spindle 133, the other end being mounted in a bracket 132 which is fastened by a screw bolt 135 to the carrier 131 and is in effect a part of the carrier. The tape 100 passes over a roll 137, which is 1'0- tatable upon the spindle 133, thence between the jaws 139, 141 of a pair of grippers and thence down over a thin horizontal bar which is part of the carrier 131 and between part of a member 179 and the toothed edge of a leaf spring 181, said last two members forming a second pair of grippers for engaging the tape and constituting the above mentioned holder for the leading end of the tape prior to its presentation to the feed and applying rolls. The member 179, as will presently be explained, carries the leaf spring and is adapted to be rocked about the jaw 139 (Fig. 7) when the carrier 131 is swung downward so as to present the leading end of the tape to the bite of the tape-applying and feeding rolls.

The lower jaw 141 of the first mentioned pair of grippers is pivoted about the stem of the bolt 135 and is urged at all times toward theupper jaw 139 by a spring 145, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper jaw is arod fastened by a screw 147 to part of the carrier 131 and having on its under side teeth so formed as to permit the tape 100 to move freely toward the feed rolls but to prevent it from being pulled through the grippers in the reverse direction. The tape 100 is engaged at one edge by a flange on the roll 137, and at the opposite edge by a guide 149, the lower end of which extends over the rod 139 and the upper end of which is threaded upon the end of a screw 151. The screw is rotatable in but held from longitudinal movement with respect to the bracket 132 and, by turning it, the edge guide 149 may be adjusted to provide for different widths of tape. As shown in Fig. 3, the guide 149 engages the tape at a plurality of points spaced along the length of the tape. That edge of the tape which is engaged by the guide 149 is also engaged farther up on the tape (Fig. 1) by a long guide 150 which is fast to and carried by a bar 152 said bar being slidably mounted in the overhanging arm 87 so that, as will presently appear, the guide may be adjusted to provide for tape of different widths. Referring to Fig. 2, the bar 152 has a downturned end through which passes a rod 154 to which the down-turned end of the bar 152 pinned. The left-hand end of this rod is 755 threaded to receive a thumb-nut 163 which bears against a sleeve 156, said sleeve being integral with the frame of the machine. A coiled spring 158 encircling the rod 154, is

located between the down-turned end of the bar 154 and the frame of the machine. The spring urges the bar, and with it the gage 150. at all times toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2. By turning the thumb-nut, the

bar may be moved toward the left.

The tape 100 (Fig. 1) is taken from a spool I i oted about the axis of the roll 165 is the upper TI end of a short link 167, the lower end of this link beingpivoted at 171 to one end of 'a long link'169/ Rotatably mounted on the pivot 171 is a roll 17 3', the tapelOO passing from the roll 165 around this roll 173 and thence in the path shown to the grippers. Thetape is thus bighted about the roll 165, having a fixed center, and is further, bighted i about the roll 173, which is pivotally mounted for movement about the center of the roll 165. The link 169 is pivoted near its-lower end (Figs, 3 and 7 about the bolt 135. When the tape holder is actuated to present v.the

leading end of the tape tothe tape-applying and work-feeding rolls, the link 167 swings about the axis of the roll 165 (Fig. 1), and the distance from the roll 165 to the. grippers 139, 141, measured along the path of '1 the tape, remains the same irrespective of the angular position of the carrier 131. There isth usno tendency for the tape to pull back between the jaws 139, 1&1 so to speak, when the carrier 131 is rocked downwardly. When, however, the carrier 131 is swung back to its raised position and the link 167 swings back about the axis of the roll 165 to the position shown in 1, a different condition exists, and there is a tendency to pull the tape, back through the jaws 139,

141. This dir'lerent condition is due to the fact that, when the tape holder is in its lower position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, the tape is ordinarily being applied to the work andhence is being gripped and fed by the rolls. /Vhen, under these conditions, the tape holder is swung to its raised position and the link 167 swings to the lett, into the position shown in Fig. 1, it is evident that there will be strong backward pull upon the tape unless, during that time, an extra supply of tape is fed quickly to the roll 165.

The purpose of the comparatively large roll 157 about which the tape isbighted is to feed this extra supply quickly when needed. This roll is rotated at a peripheral speed considerably faster than the normal speed of the tape, that is the speed at which the tape and the work are fed by the rolls which. grip and feed the tape and the work. The path of the tape about the auxiliary teed roll 157 is such that, normally the roll 157 exerts practically no driving power upon the tape; but, assoonas the carrier 131 begins to be swung up from the dotted line position to the full vlineposition (Fig. 7) and a pull is exerted which tends to pull the tape from its supply faster than before, the tape, is tightened about the roll 157; and that roll immediate- 1y delivers the tape faster than before to the roll 165. It should be noted that the roll 157 will act to feed the tape it for any reason the tape is pulled tightly about it. For example, if thetape at any time doesnot unwind freely from the supply reel (not 1 shown), the roll 157 will act immediately to apply additional force to cause it to unwind. The roll 157 (Fig.1) is driven from the shaft 53 by means of a train of gears 174, 176, 178, 180, 182 and 18 i which are journaled in the overhangingarm 87 of the machine frame.

The illustrated machine is provided with means for heating the tape, if desired; and the construction, including the link 167, which has been described, serves the further purpose of causing heat to be applied tov the tape only during the time that tape is being applied to' the leather. To this end an electric heater 175 has its operative tape-engaging face 375, which constitutes a heat applying surface, located as shown best in Fig. 1, so that, when the li nk167 is swung downwardly, the run or the tape between the roll 165 and the roll-17 3 isbrought into contact with the heater. The heater is carried by a'pertorated standard 177', which is fastened to the overhanging arm 87.

. When the carrier 131 is rocked to present the leading end of the tape to the work-supporting and tape-applying rolls, it is desirable that the extreme end of the tape be so presented to the rolls that the first portion of the tape to be applied to the leather shall not be crumpled or wrinkled. To this end (Figs. 3 and 7 there are provided the member '17 9 and the toothed spring member 181 which have been mentioned above. The spring member 181 is fastened at its upper portion to the member 179 by screws 183 so that its lower serrated end presses the tape against the member 179, said member having a substantially horizontal extension at the end of which is a projection arranged to engage the edge of the tape. The spring member 181 has a diagonal edge 301 to give this member a tape covering portion of diminishing width along the length of the tape in a direction opposite to the direction of feed thereof, the member 181 being flared away from the member 179 in the vicinity or" the edge 301 to facilitate the insertion of the tape between the members. The member 179 has twoupwardly extending lugs by which the member is rotatably suspended on the rod 139. In order to rock this member about the axis of the rod 139, one of the lugs on the member 179 is pivoted at 185 to the lower end of a short link 187 the upper end of which is pivoted at 189 to the adjacent end of the link 169 which projects beyond its pivot 135. When now the carrier 131 is swung down aboutits axis 13 the relative movement between the lower end of the link 169 and the 7 In this position, the free end of the to the bite of the rolls and will be gripped and fed as soon as a piece of sheet material is presented to the rolls.

It has been explained that the carrier 131 is rocked about its axis 13 when the segmental gear 127 (Fig. 3) is rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow. This gear is fast to one end of a sleeve 193 which is rotatable upon a stationary rod 195 secured to the overhanging arm 87 and has fast to its opposite end an arm 197 having formed in it a cam slot comprising two portions 199, 201. Extending into this cam slot and normally occupying a position at the extreme upper end of the slot is a roll 203 mounted on a spindle 205. This spindle is carried at the upper end of a curved arm 207 (Fig. 2), the lower end of said arm being integral with one end of an elongated hub 209 which is rotatably mounted upon a stationary horizontal rod 211 carried by the arm 87 of the machine frame. The other end of the hub 209 has integral with it one end of a second curved arm 213, the other end of the arm having fastened to it an eye 215 through which projects the threaded up er end of a treadle-rod 217.

This rod is urge upwardly by a coiled spring 219, as shown, and may be pulled down at any time by means of a treadle (not shown) which is connected to its lower end. When the treadle is depressed, the roll 203 is rocked toward the observer, as viewed in Fig. 2, and the carrier 131 is rocked to depress the holder as indicated in Fig. 7. For a reason which will presently appear, the upper portion 199 of the cam slot in the arm 197 (Fig. 3) is concentric with the axis of the rod 211 (Fi 2) about which the roll 203 is swung, so t at the roll moves through the portion 199 of the cam slot without moving the tapepresenter. It is only the portion 201 of the cam slot which is effective, in co-operation with the roll 203, to rock the carrier 131.

The tape-severing mechanism is also operated by the swinging of the roll 203 said roll passing through a cam slot in a second arm 221 (Fig. 4) this cam slot having two portions 223, 225. The arm 221 (Fig. 5) is fastened near its lower end by a screw 227 to a shaft 229 which is rotatably mounted in a stationary bearing 231 in the arm 87. This shaft is formed at its left-hand end with a fork the arms of which are indicated at 331. A knife-carrier 233 has its left-hand upper portion pivoted between the arms 331 V by a pin 235 which is fastened to the knifecarrier 233 by a set screw 237, the upper right-hand portion of the knife carrier being slidably received between the arms of a fork formed at the lower end of the arm 221. A knife. in the form of a safety razor blade 239, is fastened to an extension of the knifecarrier 233 by means of the clamping member 241 having two upstanding ears between which is received the head of a clamping screw 243, said clamlp carrier 233 at 244 ig.

Located in front of the knife is a presser or gripper 245 having a slot 247 into which the knife normally extends and through which it moves when the tape is being severed. This presser 245 has a hub 345 at its upper end which is rotatably mounted upon the shaft 229 and a lateral lug 445 which rests upon the lower outwardly bent portion of one of the arms 331. A headed olt 249 extends up through alined bores in the arm 331 and the lug 445 and has threaded upon its upper end a hollow elongated cap 251. A coiled spring 253 which bears at its lower end upon the lug 445 and at its upper end against the cap 251 tends to hold the lug 445 against the arm 331 but permits them to be separated when, as will presently appear, the presser 245 presses the tape against the stationary cutting block 15 which is mounted on the arm 87 A look nut 255 holds the cap 251 in adjusted position.

With the parts as thus far described, and leaving out of consideration for the moment the pivotal mounting of the knife-carrier about the axis of the pin 235, it will be evident thatwhen the treadle, which is attached to the rod 217 (Fig. 2) is depressed, and the roll 203 rocked toward the observer, certain swinging movements about the axis of the shaft 229 (Fig. 5) will be imparted to the knife-carrier 233. As the roll 203 swings downwardly in the upper portion 223 (Fig. 4) of the cam slot in the arm 221, the presser 245 and the knife 239 will be moved into operative relation to the grooved cutting block 15. At this time, however, there is no tape between the presser and the block, since the travel of the same roll 203 in the upper portion 199 of the cam slot in the arm 197 has not moved the tape holder. As the roll beir)1g pivoted to the 203 travels down in the lower portion 225 of the cam slot in the arm 221, the presser 245 and the knife 239 are swung away from the cutting block 15 until they occupy a position s aced further from it than that shown in ig. 1. Meanwhile, the travel of the roll 203 in the lower portion 201 of the cam slot in the arm 197 has swung the tape holder into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7. While the treadle is held down and the tape holder and tape severing mechanisms remain in the positions which have 'ust been described, the tape is applied to t e leather. As soon as a desired length of tape has been applied, the treadle is released, whereupon the tape holder and the tape-severing mechanism move respectively in a reverse direction in the respective paths which have been described. The tape holder rises into the position shown in Fig. 1 while the roll 203 is moving up in the lower portion 201 of the cam slot in the arm 197. During this time the roll 203 is also moving up in the lower portion 225 of the slot in the arm 221 as a result of which the knife-carrier 233 is swung first to cause thepresser .445 to press or grip the tape against the grooved cutting block 15 and then to cause the knife to sever the tape. The further upward movement of the roll 203 has no effect upon the tape-hole er but acts, through the upper POIdlOIl 2230f the cam slot in the arm 221 to swing the tape-- severing mechanism into the position shown 1. The function of the spring 253 which is associated with the presser 2&5 will now be clear. When the knife- 's swung toward the cutting block 1 s the press: with it until the press-er contacts with the cutting block, the further swinging movement of the knife-carrier toward the lock being permitted by the spring. inasnnich the tans is severed while it is being drawn through the machine, the engagement of the presser 2&5 with the tape occupies a very short interval; and the construction is such that the tape is pressed more firmly a ainst the upper flat face 415 of the cutting block than it is against the lower fiat face 515. Consequently, as soon as the tape has been pressed firmly against the face 415, the work-feeding and tape-applying rolls act to pull the tape taut so as to aid in the severing operation.

in order to ensure that tht tape shall be cleanly severed, the knife 239 is given a swinging movement about the pivot 235 (Fig. 5)

armhat the proper time so as to cause it to make a draw out. It has been explained that the knife-carrier 233 is pivoted about the axis of the pin 235 and that a portion of the carrier is guided between the members of the fork formed at the lower end of the arm 221. A coiled spring 256 (Fig. 4) extending down into a socket in the k ife-carrier 233 and bearing with its upper end against the base of the fork tends at all time to swing the knife-carrier 233 about the aXis of the pin 235. It is normally held from so swinging the knife-carrier by reason of connection between the knife-carrier and a bell crank lever 257 (Figs. 2 and 4), which has a flat face 259 at the upper end of its long arm adapted to engage the roll 203. he inner edge of the long arm of the lever 257 is concaved adjacent to its upper end to form a cam 260 for engaging the roll 20.3. This bell-crank lever 257 is rotatably mounted on the rod 195, and its short arm is pivoted at 261 to the upper'end of a link 263 the lower end of this link having a split head formed with a spherical socket to receive a ball 265 formed on one end of a pin 267 which is carried the outer end of an arm formed integral with the knife-carrier 233. As long as the flat face 259 (Fig. l) of the bell-crank lever 257 is in contact with the roll 203, the spring 255 is ineffective to. swing the knife-carrier 233 about the axis of the pin 235. As soon, however, as the roll 203 travels down off from the face 259 of the lever, the spring 256 swings the knife-carrier 233 to the left as viewed in Fig. 5 so as to get the knife into position to make a draw out. The upward or return movement of the roll 203, acting upon the cam surface 260, swings the lever 257 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fi 4, imparting to the knife-carrier 233 a component of movement crosswise of the tape and toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 5. While this crosswise movement of the knife carrier is taking place, the knife carrier is also moved toward the tape, as above mentioned, by the cam slot in the arm 221; that is, the

knife carrier is given a component of movement normal to the surface of the tape at the point of cutting. The resultant movement of the knife carrier enables the knife to sever the tape with a clean out.

The gear 47 (Fig. 2), from which the various moving parts of the machine are driven, is integral with one member 269 of a friction clutch which is slidable along the driving shaft 18 by means of a treadle (not shown) attached to the lower end of a treadie rod 274.

The other member of the friction clutch is indicated at 275, and the shaft 418 carries a pulley 27 3 which may be driven from any suitable source of power. 3

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In tape applying machine, a work support, means co-operating with said support for applying tape to the work, said work support having an edge extending in the direction of the length of the tape at the point of application of the tape to the work, and means for effecting relative adjustment transversely of the tape between said work support and said means co-operating therewith to effect register between said edge of said work sup port and one edge of said tape.

2. In a tape applying machine, a work support, means co-operatmg with said support for applying tape to the work, means for guiding the tape to its point of application to the work, said work support having an edge extending in the direction of the length of the tape at the point of application of the tape to the work, and means for adjusting said support crosswise of the tape to bring said edge into register with one edge of the tape.

3. In a tape applying machine, a work supporting roll, means co-operating with said roll for applying adhesive tape to the work, means for guiding the tape to its point of application to the work, and means for 1011- gitudinally adjusting the position of said roll to bring one end thereof into register with one edge of the tape at its point of application to the work.

tab

4. In a tape laying machine, a pair of rolls adapted to press a strip of tape against the work in the passage of the tape and the work between the rolls, means for determining the position of the tape at the point where it is pressed aginst the work, and means for longitudinally adjusting the position of one of said rolls to bring one end of said one roll into register with one edge of the tape.

5. In a tape applying machine, a work supporting roll mounted for rotation and for longitudinal movement, and means for adjusting said roll longitudinally to vary the location at which the work is supported. 6. In a tape applying machine, a stationary shaft, a work supporting roll mounted for rotation and for longitudinal movement on said shaft, and means for adjusting said roll along said shaft to vary the extent of the work supported by said roll.

7. In a tape applying machine, a stationary shaft, a work supporting roll mounted for rotation and for longitudinal movement on said shaft, 3. work edge gage mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said shaft, and means for adjusting said roll along said shaft to vary theextcnt of the work supported by said roll.

&In a tape applying machine, a work supporting roll mounted for rotation and for longitudinal movement, an edge gage for the work adjacent to said roll, and means for adjusting said roll longitudinally to vary the extent of thework supported by said roll.

9. In a tape laying machine, a work support, means co-operating with said support for applying adhesive tape to the work, means for yieldingly urging said support toward said co-operating tape applying means to cause the work and the tape to be pressed between said applying means and said work support, said yieldingly urged means being constructed and arranged to permit retraction of said work support to a position wherein no pressure is exerted upon the work and the tape, and operator controlled means for retracting said support to said position to permit insertion of the work between said applying means and said worksupport and removal of the work from between said applying means and said work support.

10. In a tape laying machine, a work supporting roll, means cooperating with said roll for applying adhesive tape to the work, means for drivingsaid roll to cause said roll to feed the work and the tape, and mcans for yieldingly urging said roll toward said cooperating tape applying means.

11. In a tape laying machine, a pair of rolls between which the work and a strip of tape may be passed, means for'etiecting a yielding pressure between said rolls to press the tape against the work, and operator-controlled means for separating said rolls to permit the insertion of work between said rolls and removal of the work from between said rolls. 1

12. In a tape applying machine, a work support and a roll co-operating to apply by pressure a strip of adhesive tape to a piece of work, said roll being composed of a plurality of sections constructed and arranged to permit differential rotation to take place between said sections to facilitate applying the tape u on the work in curves.

13. n a tape applying machine, a work support, a roll, said'support and said roll co-operating to apply by pressure a strip of adhesive tape to a piece of work, said roll having two sections in coaxial relation, driving means for said roll, and a differential drive mechanism interposed between each of said sections and said driving means whereby said sections may vary their respective speeds of rotation to accommodate the curvilinear passage of work between said roll and said su port when it is desired to apply the tape in curves.

14. In a tape applying machine, a work support, a feed roll co operating with said support, said roll having two sections in coaxial relation, differential driving means for said sections, and a friction drag interposed between one of said sections and said driving means.

15. In a tape applying machine, a work support, a roll, said support and said roll cooperating to apply by pressure :a strip of adhesive tape to a piece of work, said roll being composed of two end sections and a middle section disposed between said end sections, driving means for said roll, said middle section being directly driven by said driving means, and a differential drive mechanism interposed between each of said end sections and said driving means whereby said end sections may vary their respective speeds of rotation to accommodate the curvilinear passage of work between said roll and said support when it is desired to apply the tape in curves. is

16. In a tape applying machine, a work support and a roll co-operating to. apply by pressure a strip of adhesive tape to a piece of work, said roll being composed of two end sections and a middle section disposed between said end sections and having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of said end sections.

.17. In a tape applying machine, means for feeding a'strip of tape and for applying the tape to the work, and an auxiliary feed device constructed and arranged to become effective upon abnormal tension in the tape to feed the tape at a rate considerably faster than the rate of feed of said feeding means to relieve the tension in the tape.

18. In a tape applying machine, means for feeding a strip of tape and for applying the tape to the work, an auxiliary feed roll engaging the tape in advanceof its point. of ap plication to the work, and means for driving said auxiliary feed roll at a peripheral speed considerably faster than the speed at which the tape is fed by the first-mentioned feeding means,.said roll being so positioned. with respect to the tape that an abnormal tension in the tape will cause friction between said roll and the tape and thereby cause the roll to feed the tape.

19. In a tape applying machine, means for feeding a strip of tape and for applying the tape to the work, an auxiliary feed roll having a friction surface, and means for guiding the tape as it passes toward and from said feed roll, said means being arranged to cause the tape to be bighted about the periphery of said roll, said rolloperating upon abnormal tension of the tape frictionally to feed the tape.

20. In a tape applying machine,means for feeding a strip of tape and for applying the tape to the work, a heater for rendering the tape more adhesive, means for moving a porti on of thetape in adirection normalto its surface toward and from said heater, and guide means for said tape in its passage to said applying means including an auxiliary feed roll having a friction surface, said roll being disposed in a bight of the tape and effective to feed the tape rapidly to relieve the abnormal tension in the tape caused by the movement of the tape with respect to said heater.

21. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work,

and a knife for cutting the tape mounted for rotation about one axis so as to have a component of cutting movement normal to the surface of the tape at the point of cutting and Y about another axis so as to have a component of cutting movement crosswise of the tape.

22. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tap to the work, and a knife for cutting the tape so mounted as to be engageable with the tape at all points across the wic th of the tape simultaneously and to have a component of cutting movement normal to the surface of the tape at the point of cutting and also a component of cutting movement crosswise of the tape.

23. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a knife carrier, 2. support for said knife carrier, said knife carrier being movably mounted on said support to permit a movement of the knife carrier crosswise of the tape, and means for mounting said support constructed and arranged to permit movement of the knife carrier toward and from the tape in a plane normal to the surface of the tape at the point of cutting during said crosswise movement of the knife carrier.

24. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a knife carrier so mounted as to have a component of movement normal to the surface:v of the tape at the point of cutting and also a component cross-wise of the tape, and operator controlled means for imparting each of progressively applying the tape to the work,

means for cutting the tape in advance ofits point of application to the work, and means for the tape to tension the tape prior to the cutting thereof.

26. In atape app-lying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, means for cutting the tape in advance of its point of application to the work, means for actuating said cutting means, and means operableby the actuation of said cutting means momentarily to grip the tape to'facilitat-e the cutting of the tape'without stopping thefeed thereof.

27. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a tape cutting tool mounted for movement. into the path of the tape to cut the tape at a point.

in advance of its application to the work, and means for gripping the tape on each side of. the point at which the tape is to be cut by said toolto facilitate the cutting of the tape.

28. In a tape applyingmachine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a .tape cutting tool,; a carrier for said. tool mounted formovement to bring said tool into.

severing-engagement with the tape at a point in advanceof the point of application of the tape to'the work, a relatively fixed gripping member adjacent to the path of the tape and in advance of the point of engagement of said cutting tool with the tape, and a gripping member movable with said tool carrier to en-- gage saidrelatively fixed gripping member to' grip the tape upon movement of the tool carrier toward severing position, said movable gripping member being yieldingly secured to said tool carrier to permit continued movement of the latter toenable said tool to sever thev tape.

29. In atape applying machine, means for.

progressively applying the tapeto the work, a hold-er for theleading end of thetape'prior to its. presentation to said appl'ying'means,

means for actuating said holder (to present the leading end of the tape to said applying means to initiate the operation of applying thetape, heating means for the tape con structed and arranged tobe ineffective to heat the tape prior to the presentation of the tape to said applying means, and means'actuated by said holder actuating means to render said heating means effective to heat the tape.

30. In a tape applying machine, means for applying the tapeto the work, a holder" for the leading end of thetape'prior'toits pre--- sentation to said applying means, meansfor' actuatin said holder to present the leading and of t e tape to said applying means to initiate the operation of applfying the tape and for retracting said holder rom tape presenting position, said holder being constructholder to render said heating means ineffective.

31. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, means for holding the leading end of the tape prior to its presentation to said applying means, means for actuating said holding means to present the leading end of the tape to: said applying means to initiate the operation of applying the tape, a member having a heat applying surface, and means normally preventing contact between the tape and said heat appl ng surface and operable upon actuation oi sald holding means to effect contact between the tape and said heat applying surface, thereby rendering the tape more adhesive, and to maintain such contact during the operation of applying the tape.

32. In a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a member having a heat applying surface, means for bighting the tape about a fixed center in its passage to said tape applying means, means pivotally mounted about the fixed center of the first-mentioned bighting means for further bighting the tape, and means for moving said second-mentioned hting means about its pivotal mounting hi to ring the tape into contact with said heat applying surface when it is desired to render the tape more adhesive, and to remove the tape from such contact at other times.

33. In a tape applying machine, a work support, means cooperating with said support for progressively applying the tape to the work, work guiding means overlying said suppport having a shoulder adapted for engagement with the edge of the work, said guiding means being constructed and arranged to engage the side of the work adjacent to said support, and means for guiding the tape in its passage to the work constructed and arranged for relative adjustment width-wise of the tape to accommodate tape of varying widths.

' 34. n a tape applying machine, means for progressively applying the tape to the work, a member for holding the leading end of the tape prior to its presentation to said applying means, a carrier for said member, said memher being pivotally supported upon said carrier, a ivotal support for said carrier, and means or moving said carrier and said member each about its respective pivotal support to present the leading edge of the tape to said applying means.

35. In a tape laying machine, a pair of gripping members for gripping the tape across its width, and resilient means for effecting pressure between said members upon the tape, one of said members having a surface adapted to support the full width of the tape at all portions of the tape which it engages, the other of said members having a diagonal edge to give said member a tape covering portion of diminishing width along the length of the tape in a direction opposite to the direction of feed thereof, said other member being flared away from the first said member in the vicinity of said diagonal edge to facilitate the insertion of the tape between said members.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HERBERT L. CHAPIN.

Ill) 

